Seattle Mariners’ Victor Sanchez Hit By Boat, In ICU

According to Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports, Mariners prospect, Victor Sanchez was hit by a boat while swimming in his native country of Venezuela. While details are murky about the incident, it is clear that Sanchez has been critically injured, and is currently in the ICU with a double skull fracture. His condition is serious, but stable. This follows a turbulent offseason that saw Starlin Castro and Engel Beltre investigated in a shooting in the Dominican Republic, and Oscar Taveras tragically passing away in a drunk diving accident.

Awful news from Venezuela: Mariners pitching prospect Victor Sanchez was hit by a boat while swimming in the ocean, source said. In ICU now.

Sanchez, 20, was ranked as the 11th best prospect in the Mariners organization, and was expected to begin the year in AA Jackson. He signed with the organization in 2011, and was 7-6 with a 4.19 ERA in AA Jackson last season. He pitched in the Venezuelan Winter League, posting a 2-1 record. He was placed on the Tacoma News Tribune’s “Watch List” for Mariners prospects, and was expected to reach the MLB sometime in 2016.

Sanchez was noted for his excellent command, with low-velocity pitches, racking up strikeouts along the way. As more news becomes available, we will update this article.

Our thoughts are with him and his family, and we will update you there is more information on this tragic matter.